Somboon Restaurant: The best seafood in Bangkok

Since 1969, Somboon Seafood started a business of restaurant serving Seafood, Chinese food and beverage. From 1 block of commercial building at SamYan (beside the commerce and accountancy faculty, Chulalongkorn, i.e. Jamjuree Square, Somboon was becoming well-known more and more from his special menu which is so-called "Fried Curry Crab". With the original and extraordinary recipe, this menu becomes a brand identity of Somboon Seafood accordingly. Until now Somboon Seafood has opened 5 branches as follows:

1. Bantadthong Branch
2. Surawong Branch
3. Ratchada Branch
4. UdomSuk Branch
5. SamYan Branch re-opening in the beginning of July 2008

Website : http://www.somboonseafood.com

Top five restaurants in Bangkok

1. Zanotti II Ristorante Italiano

Foodies are in general agreement that some of the best Italian food to be found in Southeast Asia is in Bangkok. So it's no wonder then that the city's iconic Zanotti Il Ristorante Italiano has not only remained in our survey's Top 20 ranking but risen six positions to take 13th spot this year. Chef-owner Gianmaria Zanotti's first (and now flagship) Italian restaurant has garnered a loyal following since it opened for business over a decade ago and no wonder. The menu, which showcases the Piedmontese cuisine of chef Zanotti's hometown of Turino, is mind-bogglingly extensive. The food is hearty and the portions generous, with most of the ingredients imported from wherever they're produced best. But, most importantly, the pleasure of visiting this Bangkok dining institution is as much about the scene, ambience and service as it is about the food.
- 1F Saladaeng Main Road, Colonnade Condominium, 21/2 Silom Road, Silom Bangrak, Bangkok, Thailand
- Tel: 66 2 636 0002 http://www.zanotti-ristorante.com/


2. Bo.lan

Hot newcomer Bo.lan is more than just a restaurant. Co-owners and chefs Duangporn Songvisava and Dylan Jones are preserving, reviving and celebrating the best regional Thai dishes, including those rarely found outside of Thai homes. Sticking steadfastly to the traditional principles of Thai cooking (trips to the fresh market twice a day, and creating everything from scratch, right down to the pork floss that adorns superb bowls of curry), the couple serves up dishes like a salad of grilled banana blossom and a deeply savoury and feisty cassia leaf curry (gaeng khi lek) with slow-grilled beef. The Bo.lan Balance menu, which usually features five seasonal specialties, is a great introduction to the splendours of this kitchen.
- 42 Soi Pichai Ronnarong Sukhumvit, 26 Road, Klong Klongteoy, Bangkok, Thailand
- Tel: 66 2 260 2962 http://www.bolan.co.th/


3. New York Steakhouse

The walls, while dark wood and plush leather lend a masculine ambience - indeed, a slice of New York has been transported to Bangkok, complete with the great steaks that New Yorkers love. Widely regarded as Bangkok's top steakhouse, New York serves excellent grain-fed US-certified Angus beef in every incarnation. There is also a list of 19 martinis to go with your meal.

- 2F JW Marriott Hotel Bangkok, 4 Sukhumvit Soi 2 Bangkok, Thailand
- Tel: 66 2 656 7700 http://www.marriot.com/


4. Le Normandie

Le Normandie counts politicians, socialites and royalty among its clientele. It sticks steadfastly to the old world formality of fine dining - compulsory dinner jacket and tie, private lift access and flawless service. Top chefs from around the world - including Thomas Keller and Jean-Georges Vongerichten - routinely guest in the kitchen, sealing Le Normandie's reputation as a premier fine dining venue. Its French menu offers treasures like handmade goose liver ravioli with truffle sauce, and a slowcooked lamb shoulder that never fails to impress.
- Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, 48 Oriental Avenue, Bangkok, Thailand
- Tel: 66 2 659 9000 http://www.mandarinoriental.com/Bangkok


5. Erawan Tea Room

The Erawan Tea Room is an oasis of cool and comfort, a fine retreat from the heat and spectacle of Bangkok. Amid interiors designed by Tony Chi - which bids one to relax and expunge haste - is thoughtful service and a list of delicious Thai snacks including minced pork and water chestnuts wrapped with egg noodles, or an afternoon tea set that features freshly baked scones served with Chiang Mai strawberry jam. At lunch and dinner, the Tea Room serves excellent traditional Thai cuisine.
- 2F Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok, 494 Rajadamri Road, Bangkok, Thailand
- Tel: 66 2 254 1234

Winners of Bangkok Best Eats 2010 - Part 1

Best sushi bar: Maru

Best Eats expert panelist chef Ian Kittichai calls unassuming Maru his top pick for "very good custom sushi."
Chef McDang agrees, noting that while there are many great Japanese restaurants in Bangkok, "this one is very personal. Nice and quiet, tucked away, very friendly."
"It's all done traditionally with Japanese style, as the owner is Japanese," says McDang. "He knows that I like things that are unusual and that I have to have an education in the culinary arts of the Japanese culture. 'What do you have, why do you use these ingredients?' He will educate you."
Located in the Japanese enclave of Thong Lor, where Japanese restaurants outnumber Thai restaurants, the 12-year-old Maru is where Japanese executives dine without worrying about the cost.
"So bloody expensive I have to go dutch,” laughs McDang. "But it's worth it; really fresh and inventive. Everything about eating Japanese at Maru is an experience. My palate gets to taste very different things every time I go."
95/5-6 Thong Lor Soi 3, Sukhumvit Soi 55. Tel: +66 (0)2 712 5001. Open daily, 5 p.m.-midnight



Best Thai noodles: Boat noodles at Provence Cafe

Provence Cafe, inside Bangkok's Peninsula Plaza, has a huge menu of satisfying pasta, seafood and meat dishes. But it's the Thai noodle dishes that get local foodies salivating.
When prime ministers and celebrities like TV host Chef McDang are coming to your restaurant specifically for your boat noodles, you know you're doing something right.
The noodles are handmade onsite while all the ingredients are fresh, including the imported beef. But it's the perfectly seasoned broth that really makes this dish a Bangkok standout.
In fact, the owner tells us that its regulars are so addicted to the chef's broth that they know right away if she's on holiday and someone else is working in the kitchen.
Provence now has a branch in Gaysorn Plaza as well, but for the freshest noodles, McDang recommends sticking to the original, in Peninsula Plaza.
Peninsula Plaza, 153 Rajdamri Road. Tel: +66 (0)2 652 1399. Open daily, 10 a.m.-9p.m



Best Peking duck: Great Shanghai

"Great Shanghai has bland décor and dicey service, but the duck is pure bliss," says Bangkok 101 publisher and Best Eats dining expert Mason Florence. "Succulent meat and crispy skin."
The staff take great pains to make sure there isn't a spot of fat left on the skin when it hits your plate, expertly de-fatting it at your table.
Accompanying the duck slices are thin, non-sticky but soft and moist pancakes and what just might be Thailand's best Peking duck sauce -- homemade hoisin with the perfect balance of sweetness and saltiness.
The huge restaurant features authentic Cantonese cuisine, but the Peking duck is what everyone comes for.
648 Sukhumvit Road soi 24, BTS: Phrompong. Tel: +66 (0)2 258-7042. Open daily for lunch 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and dinner 6-10 p.m.


Best Sunday brunch: Four Seasons Bangkok

It took a while for the concept of Sunday buffet brunch to catch on in Bangkok, simply because “Thais eat mini meals," says Chef McDang. "Brunch is a very Western concept."But caught on it has, with the Four Seasons edging out some stiff competition to top our list of Best Brunches. As business owner and Best Eats judge Suki points out, the table service and pure selection gives it the advantage.You don't have to line up and wait for the chefs to prepare your dishes. Simply leave a card with your table number on it and they'll bring it to you when it's ready.Just be sure to pace yourself. The granddaddy of Bangkok brunches, the Four Seasons lays out dozens of serving tables that groan beneath the weight of fresh Sydney rock oysters, lobster, Indian, pasta, Middle Eastern kebabs, lamb chops, steak, veal, roast duck, cheeses, sushi and caviar.And because Sunday calories don't count, the dessert table includes tiramisu and peach creme brulee. Even for a five-star hotel, this brunch is extravagant.Wash it all down with champagne or mimosas and your Sunday afternoon just got a whole lot more interesting.
Four Seasons Hotel. 455 Rajadamri Road, BTS: Chidlom or Rajdamri. Tel +66 (0)2 253 9195. Brunch from noon-3 p.m., http://www.fourseasons.com/

Best som tam restaurant: Som Tam Nua

"Som Tam Nua has got the art of papaya salad nailed, in more varieties than one can imagine. Be prepared to queue up for a table," says Thai 101 publisher Mason Florence.
In business for almost a decade, Som Tam Nua has never lost it charm nor its popularity. With modern décor, the place is always packed full during peak hours.
It is more of an eat-and-run place rather than a chill out spot, serving flavorful Isaan dishes including the popular phad kanomjeen (stir-fried rice noodles) and fried chicken.
392/14 Soi Siam Square 5, Rama 1 Road. Tel +66 (0) 22 51 4880. Open daily, 10:45 a.m.-9.30 p.m.

Pattaya Beach Restaurants - South Pattaya

Traditional Thai Puppet Theatre (Joe Louis) Thai Restaurant

Nothing beats watching entertaining cultural shows while enjoying your dinner. Here, guests will be entertained by the traditional Thai puppets show, telling stories taken from the Ramekin epic and Thai folk dances. Four shows daily, the first show starts at 19:00 and the last show ends around 23:00. 

Opening Hours: 17:30 – 01:00
Location: Pattaya City Walk, near the entrance by Second Road
Cuisine: Thai and International
Contact: +66 (0) 38 488 073-5

Boat Bakery

Don’t misunderstand its name. Yes, Boat Bakery sells baked items but most people come here for its delicious Thai a la carte menu. The prices are cheap and the quality of each dish is definitely up-to-par. If you’re planning on going there for dinner please note that they close at 21:00.  

Opening Hours: 17:00 – 21:00
Location: 194/12 – 14, Second Road
Cuisine: Bakery and Thai dishes
Contact: +66 (0) 38 428 673
Price Range: Budget

AKA

This famous Japan franchise is a cook-it-yourself style restaurant, offering a variety menu of teppanyaki, shabu shabu and yakiniku. What you do is that you choose your own kind of meat and other add-ins, have them cook it all up and enjoy them with the sauces provided. AKA usually has buffet promotions, check out the menu stand at the front. 

Opening Hours: 11:00 – 21:30
Location: 3rd floor, Royal Garden Pattaya
Cuisine: Japanese
Contact: +66 (0) 38 710 294
Price Range: Pricey

Pan Pan (Pattaya City Walk)

Located near the entrance of Pattaya City Walk by Beach Road, Pan Pan does fantastic pizza, great home-style pastas, lasagna and delicious Italian homemade ice cream. Pan Pan has three braches in Pattaya; the other two are in Jomtien (Thappraya Road) and on the 5th floor at Central Festival Pattaya Beach. 

Opening Hours: 11:00 – 01:00
Location: Pattaya City Walk, Beach Road
Cuisine: Italian
Contact: +66 (0) 38 710 218
Price Range: Affordable

Koo Koo – Pollo

This promising 24 hours fast food venue offers value-for-money meal sets, mainly focusing on chicken and has a wide selection of side dishes. The set meal usually comes with a large size drink and some Portuguese bread. Koo Koo Pollo also serves Thai dishes and other plates ready for you to point out and pick.  

Opening Hours: 24 Hours
Location: 217/20-21 Pattaya 2nd Road, near Wat Chai
Cuisine: Fast Food
Contact: +66 (0) 38 420 5788
Price Range: Affordable

La Notte Pub and Restaurant

La Notte offers a good combination of European cuisine with a heavy Italian slant, combined with excellent wine and cocktail menu and professional service. It has a stylish and modern dining room with candlelit terrace and chill tunes.

Opening Hours: 18:00 - late
Location: 220/2-4, by the end of Walking Street
Cuisine: Italian and European
Contact: +66 (0) 38 429 792
Price Range: Pricey

Pattaya Beach Restaurants - North Pattaya

Where and What to Eat in Pattaya Beach

From curbside cuisine and greasy burgers to five-star gourmet, Pattaya has it all. The range of food available here is as diverse as the people who flock here. As easily as you can mingle with Europeans, Russians, Middle Eastern people, Americans, Asians and of course Thais in Pattaya, you can enjoy food originating from their homelands. Everything from schnitzel, falafels and kebabs, to British pub grub, homely Italian pasta and fresh seafood can be found in the city's eclectic restaurants, many of which are run by expats who've set up shop here and brought their culinary know-how with them.

There's a lot of competition for your business so prices are generally very competitive. Fast food, like every corner of the modern world these days, is also widely available. McDonalds, KFC, Burger King, Pizza Hut and Subway are all in attendance.

Another great, as well as educational option in Pattaya is street food. Choose carefully (ideally somewhere busy where the food is cooked freshly in front of you), and you can enjoy exotic cuisine in a no-frills al fresco setting – and usually for less than 50 baht! Roaming vendors and temporary stalls sell noodles, grilled meats, seafood, fresh fruit and other oddities all across town.

= North Pattaya =

Mantra

Mantra is a dynamic and stylish restaurant, serving mouthwatering Japanese, Indian, Chinese, Thai and Mediterranean cuisines. Specialties include sushi and sashimi platter (16 pcs), a BBQ selection with duck, crispy pork and barbecued pork, chicken tikka, lobster bisque, or you can you order the set menu provided – it's great value for money. A Moroccan-themed bar with a walk-through wine cellar (over 1,500 labels) at the entrance, Mantra is an ideal spot to hang out with friends before and/or after diner. Reservations recommended.

Opening Hours: 17:00 – 01:00 (Sunday brunch 11:00 – 15:00)
Location: 240 Beach Road (Amari Orchid Resort and Tower)
Cuisine: Asian and Mediterranean
Contact: +66 (0) 38 429 591
Price Range: Luxurious

Henry J. Bean Bar & Grill

This lively bar is a great place for Tex-Mex food. Its menu focuses on open grilled food including well-prepared steaks, oversized burgers, and fresh salads. The bar features live music every evening and offers a selection of refreshing beers and sensational cocktails mixed by professional bartenders.  

Opening Hours: 17:00 – 01:00, Sunday 11:00 – 01:00
Location: 240 Beach Road (Amari Orchid Resort and Tower)
Cuisine: Mexican – American
Contact: +66 (0) 38 418 418 extension 792
Price Range: Pricey

Food Loft

Situated on the third level of Central Festival Pattaya Beach, Food Loft takes the mall food court concept a step further. It has added ambience, a view of the sea and international options including; Italian, Indian, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese and Thai. Don’t forget to check out the lunch and dinner set available at the Italian and Japanese station.  

Opening Hours: 11:00 – 22:00
Location: Central Festival Pattaya Beach, Soi 9 Beach Road
Cuisine: International
Contact: +66 (0) 33 003 999 extension Food Loft
Price Range: Affordable

Kiss Food and Drink

Open 24 hours a day, this food-court like restaurant is located on the ground level of Pattaya Bazaar Shopping Mall (east of Dolphin Roundabout). They cook good Thai a la carte and seafood at surprisingly cheap prices. Excellent service and friendly staff, too. 

Opening Hours: 24 hours
Location: 216/ 23, Ground Level, Pattaya Bazaar Shopping Mall
Cuisine: Thai
Contact: +66 (0) 38 412 112-3
Price Range: Budget

Trattoria Pizzeria Toscana

This green gardened beachfront trattoria specializes in pasta, pizza, antipasti, spaghetti and more. Wine lovers rave about the huge and unique selection. Reservations recommended.  

Opening Hours: 12:00 – 24:00
Location: 98/4 Beach Road (near the Montien Pattaya Hotel)
Cuisine: Italian
Contact: +66 (0) 38 362 370
Price Range: Luxurious

Moom Talay

Meaning “sea corner”, Moom Talay is a little sister of Trattoria Pizzeria Toscana and serves Thai seafood and delicious barbecued food. Highlights for foreigner-friendly dishes include king prawns fried in garlic and pepper, steamed Hong Kong style sea bass, chicken with cashew nuts. Spicy Thai-for-Thai food includes tom klong pla krob and khuay tieou pad kee mao.  

Opening Hours: 12:00 – 24:00
Location: 98/4 Beach Road (near the Montien Pattaya Hotel)
Cuisine: Thai
Contact: +66 (0) 81 861 3446
Price Range: Luxurious

Samurai Sushi

If you’re craving sushi or sashimi, then head to Samurai Sushi located on the Pattaya Second Road. A 70-metre long food conveyor belt (the longest in Thailand) winds its way around the restaurant carrying colour-coded prepared dishes including maki roll, sweet shrimps, hot and cold noodles, Japanese tuna and more – all spanking fresh.  

Opening Hours: 11:00 – 02:00
Location: Between Soi 5 and Soi 6 Second Road
Cuisine: Japanese
Contact: +66 (0) 38 426 215
Price Range: Affordable

Plathong Seafood

This alfresco restaurant is popular with locals and most first-time visitors come back here for its delicious food, relaxing atmosphere and friendly staff. The restaurant's signature dishes include steamed fish with soy sauce, crab meat sausages, mixed seafood soup, and fried oysters with egg.

Opening Hours: 09:00 – 24:00
Location: Between Soi 5 and Soi 6 Beach Road
Cuisine: Asian and Seafood
Contact: +66 (0) 38 362 142-4
Price Range: Affordable

Alois Restaurant and Wine Bar

This fine dining establishment serves gourmet European and Thai cuisine in a relaxed yet elegant atmosphere. Host Vichai Priyatrakulruji takes pleasure in inviting guests to partake of a memorable lunch or dinner experience. Enjoy a selection of delectable appetizers, pastas, steaks and seafood dishes, paired with a bottle of red or white wine from the restaurant’s temperature-controlled wine cellar. Just a street block from the Walking Street, on Thappraya Road, the restaurant is easy to find and has ample parking space.

Opening Hours: 12:00 - 14:30 (lunch); 18:00 - midnight (dinner)
Location: Thappraya Road, where Pattaya Third Road meets the flyover
Tel: +66 (0) 38 267 191-2
Cuisine: European
Price Range: Pricey